Submission Guidelines

King Features is always interested in looking at new columns and features for possible syndication. We place great importance on reviewing new material. Without exception, every column or feature submitted to us is carefully considered. In order to help you present your work in the best possible light, please follow these submission guidelines:

1. Five sample columns circa 600 words each. These may be submitted as tear sheets or in manuscript form. Some information about yourself, and any additional published articles and materials you believe to be relevant.
2. Your bio or CV.
3. You will be contacted if there is interest in syndicating your material; however, material submitted to King Features for review cannot be returned. Because of this, we ask that you DO NOT send self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) for a reply. Cover letters are kept on file, other materials will be recycled when they are no longer under consideration. If you do not hear from us within 6 weeks, your material is not appropriate for our needs at this time.

King Features does not accept submissions via email. Send copies of your material, not originals, we cannot be responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.

King Features receives approximately 50 column submissions each week. Of these, less than 1% are selected annually. However, we give careful consideration to all submissions. In addition to the editorial quality of your submission, your idea must be in line with our current demands for syndication. Before you submit your idea, please check the Editor and Publisher Annual Directory of Syndication Services to see what is currently syndicated in your field.

King Features is always happy to look at new comic features for possible syndication. We believe in the art of cartooning and place great importance on looking at new material. Without exception, we carefully consider every comic strip or panel idea submitted to us. In order to present your work in the best possible light and to help us respond to it more quickly, please follow the submission guidelines below.

Your total submission package should include:
1. A cover letter — that briefly outlines the overall nature of your comic strip. Your cover letter should also include your full name, address, and telephone number and shouldn’t be much longer than one page.
2. 24 daily comic strips — on 8-1/2″ x 11″ paper (you can fit up to 3 or 4 strips per page).
3. A character sheet — that shows your major characters (if any) along with their names and a paragraph description of each.

Please do not include a return envelope. Simply be sure to include your contact information in your cover letter. If we are interested in your work, we will contact you to critique it, discuss it, or ask for more samples. We thoroughly review every comic submission we receive, but due to the enormous number of submissions we receive, we are unable to respond to every one. If you don’t receive a response from us within 8-12 weeks, you may assume that we didn’t feel it was something we could successfully develop for syndication. Please understand that this is not a negative criticism of your work, as we receive many more excellent submissions than we can work with realistically.

Do you have questions about the submission process? We’ve tried to answer some of the most frequently asked questions below!

I AM UNFAMILIAR WITH SYNDICATION. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT A CARTOON SYNDICATE DOES?
First, a syndicate decides which comic strips it thinks it can sell best. Then it signs a contract with the cartoonist to create the strips on a regular basis. But most of all, the syndicate edits, packages, promotes, prints, sells and distributes the comic strip to newspapers and other publications around the world. In short, a syndicate is responsible for bringing the cartoons from the cartoonist to the public.

HOW MANY CARTOONS SHOULD I SUBMIT?
Send 24 black and white daily comic strips. It is not necessary to send Sunday comic strips. If we like your daily comics, we will ask to see sample Sunday pages.

WHAT SIZE SHOULD I DRAW MY COMICS?
Most comic strip cartoonists draw their daily comic strips 13″ wide by 4″ tall. Most single-panel cartoonists draw their daily panel 7″ wide by 7″ high, not counting the extra space for the caption placed underneath the drawing. You can draw larger or smaller than that, as long as your cartoons are in proportion to those sizes. When you send your comics to us, please scale them to fit on standard letter-sized (8 1/2″ x 11″) paper.

WHAT FORMAT SHOULD I SUBMIT MY CARTOONS IN?
You should reduce your comics to fit onto standard 8-1/2″ x 11″ sheets of paper. Write your name, address and phone number on each page. Do not send your original drawings! Send photocopies instead.

We would prefer not to receive binders, portfolios, or submissions on disk. Due to the enormous number of submissions we receive, it’s easiest on us if the work is kept to 8-1/2” x 11” paper, bound with a paper clip or a staple.

CAN I SUBMIT MY WORK IN A DIGITAL FORMAT VIA THE INTERNET OR ON A DISK?
We do not accept work submitted via the internet or on disk. It is easiest for us to receive, track, and account for the work if everything is sent in via regular mail or courier in the format described above.

DO I NEED TO COPYRIGHT MY CARTOONS BEFORE SENDING THEM?
No, it’s not necessary, but if you feel safer doing so, you can obtain copyright information by contacting the Copyright Office, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20559.

WILL I RECEIVE A REPLY TO MY SUBMISSION?
We thoroughly review every comic submission we receive, but due to the enormous amount of submissions we receive, we are unable to respond to every one. If we are interested in your work, we will make sure to contact you. If you do not hear from us after two or three months, you may assume that we do not have a place for your work at this time. You are always welcome to submit again if you feel your work has considerably improved.

WHAT ARE MY CHANCES OF GETTING SYNDICATED BY KING FEATURES?
King Features is one of the world’s largest syndicates. Each year, we receive thousands of submissions, but only a few are chosen for syndication.

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A SUBMISSION?
We are looking for comic features that will simultaneously appeal to the editors who buy comics and the readers whose interest the comics must sustain for years to follow. We don’t have a formula for telling us which comics will do that, but we do look for some elements that we believe people respond to.

First, we look for a uniqueness that reflects the cartoonist’s own individual slant on the world and humor. If we see that unique slant, we look to see if the cartoonist is turning his or her attention to events that other people can relate to.

Second, we very carefully study a cartoonist’s writing ability. Good writing helps weak art, better than good art helps weak writing. Good art is also important. It is what first attracts readers to a comic strip. We look to see that your art is drawn clearly and with visual impact. We want our comics to be noticed on a page.

Finally, we look for your ability to sustain a high level of quality material. We want comics that readers will enjoy for years and years.

IF I AM A BETTER WRITER THAT AN ARTIST (OR VICE VERSA), WILL THE SYNDICATE MATCH ME UP WITH A PARTNER?
If your work is far enough along that we think it would succeed with only a few improvements to the art or writing, then the syndicate will attempt to find you a partner. In most cases, however, it is up to the cartoonist to find a partner.

WHAT ARE THE TERMS OF PAYMENT IF MY WORK IS ACCEPTED?
If your work is accepted for syndication, the proceeds are split 50/50 between the cartoonist and the syndicate. Cartoonists can make between $20,000 and $1,000,000 dollars a year. It all depends on how many publications subscribe to your comic strip and how many other outlets exist for selling your cartoons or your characters.

CAN YOU GIVE ME ANY TIPS TO IMPROVE MY CHANCES OF SUCCESS?
The single best way of improving your chances for success is to practice. Only by drawing and writing cartoons do you get better at it. Invariably the cartoonists whose work we like best turns out to be those who draw and write cartoons regularly whether anyone sees their work or not.

Another key to success it to read a lot. Read all sorts of things — fiction, magazines and newspapers. Humor is based on real life. The more you know about life, the more you have to humorously write about.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COMMON MISTAKES MADE BY ASPIRING CARTOONISTS?
Aspiring cartoonists often place too much emphasis on coming up with a novel character or setting. A strip starring a giraffe won’t get critical acclaim just because there’s never been a giraffe strip before. Well-defined and interesting characters who resonate with their audience is much more important than a unique or novel way of presenting them.

In many cases, aspiring cartoonists develop too narrow a premise. Syndicated comics are meant to last for decades. A cartoon about a character who always falls asleep at the wrong time or talks about just one topic day after day, will quickly get repetitive and boring. Develop characters and situations that will allow you many avenues for humor in the future.

Very few aspiring cartoonists pay enough attention to their lettering. The words need to be lettered neatly enough, and large enough, that readers can read them without difficulty. Practice writing the alphabet out regularly until you can reproduce it neatly and consistently.

Newspapers usually print comic strips about 6-1/2″ wide. They usually print single panel cartoons 3-1/8″ wide. Have your local copy shop reduce a few of your cartoons to printed size to see if your lettering is still legible when reduced. There shouldn’t be too much writing, either. People prefer reading shorter, quicker-paced comics. If you need to squeeze the letters into your word balloons, you are probably writing too much!

Many aspiring cartoonists don’t use waterproof drawing ink to finish their drawings. Pencils, ballpoint pens, and most felt-tip pens don’t reproduce well enough for syndication. Aspiring cartoonists should learn how to use pens and/or brushes with waterproof drawing ink.

Finally, many aspiring cartoonists develop comics that are too similar to already successful strips. Newspaper editors aren’t going to duplicate a comic that they already print.